On 11 April 2024, on the occasion of the International Day for Maternal Health and Rights, the Medicines Patent Pool announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ferring Pharmaceuticals that includes a conditional licence agreement for heat-stable carbetocin (HSC). The MoU aims to support expanded access to HSC and is aligned with wider efforts of Unitaid, Ferring and other organisations to reduce maternal mortality.
The MoU with MPP sets out the circumstances in which Ferring will grant a non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free licence of Ferring’s patents and know-how covering HSC to MPP for MPP to enter into sublicences in respect of the registration, manufacture and supply of HSC to the public sector of target countries. These countries include all L&LMICs, per the World Bank Classification, and upper middle-income countries where the maternal mortality ratios are higher than 140 per 100,000 live births, the capability to maintain cold chain is an issue, and/or where price represents a barrier to access.
The licence and the right to grant a sublicence will be triggered if and when three criteria are met. These are:
a) their capability to maintain cold chain is an issue; or
b) the normal commercial price for HSC would constitute an impediment to access in the public sector.
(Country classifications defined as per the World Bank Classification).
Press and Media
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is a United Nations-backed public health organisation working to increase access to and facilitate the development of life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries. Through its innovative business model, MPP partners with civil society, governments, international organisations, industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders to prioritise and license needed medicines and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations.
To date, MPP has signed agreements with 22 patent holders for 13 HIV antiretrovirals, one HIV technology platform, three hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals, a tuberculosis treatment, a cancer treatment, four long-acting technologies, a post-partum haemorrhage medicine, three oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and 16 COVID-19 technologies.
MPP was founded by Unitaid, which continues to be MPP’s main funder. MPP’s work on access to essential medicines is also funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Government of Canada, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Government of Flanders. MPP’s activities in COVID-19 are undertaken with the financial support of the Japanese Government, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the German Agency for International Cooperation, and SDC.